POLITICAL INSIDERS POLL

Poll: How Would You Rate Obama’s Second-Term Performance?

On a scale of 1-10 (1 being very poor and 10 being outstanding), how would you rate Obama's handling of his second term so far?

DEMOCRATS (91 VOTES)

Average: 5.0

1-3: 22 percent4-6: 55 percent7-10: 23 percent

1-3

"[We're] lucky voters aren't asking for a recount of the vote."

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"He has totally ignored the economy and jobs. Making guns and immigration the cornerstones of his program was not a good start."

"Not irrelevant, but not much of a leader, either."

"Obama's second term so far brings to mind President Eisenhower's comment when asked to name Vice President Nixon's accomplishments, 'Give me a minute and I will think of something.' "

4-6

"He's struggling, but at least he is not Romney."

"Too many unforced errors. Lucky the Republicans are so politically inept."

"Lost his footing over a series of media-driven scandals, but is now standing tall on immigration and climate change, issues that play well with the vast majority of Americans."

"He's viewed as allowing events to shape our destiny rather than striking a bold, leadership role. He can arrest this slide and perhaps turn it around, but five months into a 48-month term, it already seems late."

"The desire to negotiate has hampered the ability to position. We need more of a jobs message."

"White House is reactive and tactical rather than being focused on a broadly thematic second-term agenda."

7-10

"He has run up against the obstructionist wall of the Republican House again. Nothing you can do about that."

"The big scandals have blown over, and now the House drops the ball on the farm bill. Obama looks pretty good by comparison."

On a scale of 1-10 (1 being very poor and 10 being outstanding), how would you rate Obama's handling of his second term so far?

REPUBLICANS (96 VOTES)

Average: 2.5

1-3: 89 percent4-6: 11 percent7-10: 0 percent

1-3

"Some developments are arguably not his fault, but the second term has been largely a disaster thus far. Even progress on immigration has been in spite of Obama, not because of him."

"He has no control of his agenda; events are enveloping him, and his demeanor shows it."

"Mired in scandal, the economy continues to sputter along and Obama appears out of touch both at home and abroad."

"Increasingly, Obama looks like a bystander in his own presidency."

"He lost the gun debate and found himself in the midst of four scandals simultaneously. This is a classic Year 5 disaster. Only thing working for him is the economy, ... and now first-quarter growth has been downgraded."

"No vision, no little accomplishments, and festering scandals. Even Nixon took a year and half before he went south."